BioControl (2016) 61, 79-90

Antonio Biondi, Lucia Zappalà, Angelo Di Mauro, Giovanna Tropea Garzia, Agatino Russo, Nicolas Desneux and Gaetano Siscaro (2016)
Can alternative host plant and prey affect phytophagy and biological control by the zoophytophagous mirid Nesidiocoris tenuis?
BioControl 61 (1), 79-90
Abstract: Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an important natural enemy of several key arthropod pests. However, in tomato crop this predator can cause economic damage owing to its zoophytophagous behavior. We investigated in laboratory conditions the influence of two alternative plants, Dittrichia viscosa L. (Asteraceae) and Sesamum indicum (L.) (Pedaliaceae), with or without prey, on N. tenuis damage and its biological control services on Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) eggs. Both D. viscosa and S. indicum, as companion plants in dual-choice bioassays, significantly reduced the damage of the mirid on tomato. S. indicum was more attractive than D. viscosa for feeding and oviposition and its presence did not interfere with the predation on T. absoluta eggs. We also studied the potential of the three plants as preyless rearing substrate for the mirid, and only S. indicum showed to be a suitable host plant for N. tenuis development and oviposition. The potential applications of S. indicum in N. tenuis field management and mass rearing are discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Antonio Biondi, Nicolas Desneux, Lucia Zappala, Agatino Russo

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Nesidiocoris tenuis
Nesidiocoris tenuis (predator)